Spray nozzle with tethered closure



May 5, 1964 J. HENCHERT SPRAY NOZZLE WITH TETHERED CLOSURE Filed Jan. 17, 1962 INVENTOR JOHN HEHC'HEEST United States Patent 3,131,879 SPRAY N OZZLE WITH TETERED CLOSURE John Henchert, Morton Grove, llL, assignor to Continental Can Company, inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 166,817 2 Claims. (Cl. 239-567) The invention relates generally to dispensing nozzle or spout structures and seeks to provide a novel form of nozzle having provision for dispensing liquid therethrough in the form of a divided spray, the novel structure, while adaptable for more general usage, being particularly useful in the spraying of starter fluid on briquettes previous to igniting them in forming charcoal barbecue fires.

An object of this invention is to provide a closure having a spout or nozzle with an integrally formed diaphragm extending across the opening of the spout, wherein the diaphragm is provided with inclined bores which provide openings disposed at angles of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the spout so that the liquid contents of the container is discharged simultaneously in outwardly diverging angular streams which define an area greater than that defined within the diameter of the mouth of the spout or nozzle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein a captive or tethered cap is integrally formed with said spout so that the cap will not become detached from the spout and may be repeatedly reused for closing said spout or nozzle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure of the character stated which is integrally molded or formed of a plastic material, for example, polyethylene or the like, which may be economically produced and inexpensively applied to the container.

In the conventional dispensing or discharging of fluids, such as charcoal lighter fluids or the like, said fluids usually are discharged through openings which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispensing spout or nozzle, and therefore, the streams of the discharged fluid are dispensed in generally parallel lines and are discharged simultaneously in an area defined by the mouth of the spout or nozzle. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a nozzle which is integrally formed with a diaphragm so constructed that the streams will flow in outwardly diverging angular directions, as well as in a direction in line with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, so that the streams simultaneously define and cover an area larger than the area defined by the mouth of the nozzle. This manner of dispensing has been found to facilitate the use of charcoal lighter fluids in that a greater area is simultaneously covered. As before stated, while the invention has particular application to the dispensing of a charcoal lighter fluid, it is obviously not limited to this particular use and may be used in the dispensing of any liquid.

Another object of this invention is to provide the top of the diaphragm with an inwardly curved or concaved surface for facilitating reentry of fluid into the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle structure of the character stated wherein the diaphragm is provided with a central or axially disposed dispensing orifice or opening extending along the axis of the nozzle and surrounded by a plurality of surrounding or satellite openings each of which has its axis disposed in angular or outwardly diverging relation to the central orifice axis.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle structure of the character stated wherein the dispensing orifices are placed in thickened portions of the diaphragm so as to provide a length in each orifice capable of accurately directing a spray stream along the axis of the particular orifice, thereby to provide a definite and accurate spray stream pattern embodying a central stream along the nozzle axis surrounded by uniformly divergent and surrounding satellite streams.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nozzle of the character stated wherein the satellite orifices are formed in an annular thickened portion of the diaphragm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nozzle of the character stated wherein each orifice in the diaphragm is formed in an individual thickened portion of the diaphragm.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a nozzle of the character stated wherein the angle of divergence of the satellite orifices is so related to the nozzle outlet diameter and the outlets of said orifices so spaced from said nozzle outlet that no streams emanating from said orifices will contact nozzle wall portions defining said nozzle outlet.

With the above and other objects in View that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an inverted perspective view illustrating the discharge of streams of liquid from a container mounted nozzle constructed in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, and showing in dot and dash lines the tethered cap applied to the nozzle to close same.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the nozzle body taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 illustrating a modification wherein each satellite orifice is placed in an individual thickened portion of the diaphragm.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating another modification wherein all orifices are placed in individual thickened portions of the diaphragm.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 illustrating still another modification wherein all orifices are placed in a single uniformly thickened and centrally spaced thickened portion of the diaphragm.

The closure unit comprises a nozzle or spout generally indicated at 16', a flexible hinge or tether 12 extending therefrom, and a cap or closure generally indicated at 14 connected thereto. Within the nozzle and extending thereacross is a diaphragm generally indicated at 16. The diaphragm is provided with predetermined openings, as will be more fully set forth and described. The cap 14 may be readily snapped on or off the nozzle 10 repeatedly and the parts are deformable and resilient and assume their original molded shape after temporary distortion.

This structure is molded of a plastic such as polyethyl ene or similar material so that there is provided combined strength and substantial stiffness with resiliency.

The nozzle or spout It comprises a tubular body 29 which tapers downwardly and then extends outwardly to form an annular enlargement 2 2. The annular en largement is provided with an annular groove or recess 24, open at the bottom to receive the annular upturned or flange portion 26 of the wall of the container 28 surrounding the opening 39 of the container. The inner side walls of the recess 24 are shaped to interlock with the flange 26 of the container and secure the nozzle 10 to the container.

The tubular body 26 has a short annular portion 32 at its lower end which extends into the interior of the container.

The internal diameter of the spout is greater at the lower end than at the upper end. The upper or dispensing mouth portion of the nozzle has an annular peripheral bead or lip 34- including a lower horizontal portion 36 disposed substantially atright angles to the longitudinal Y axis of the nozzle. -The longitudinal axisof the nozzle is defined by the line A-A, as indicated in FIGURE 2.

Upwardly of the bead 34 the nozzle tapers inwardly and then turns slightly-outwardly to terminate in an annular edge 37. The inside wall adjacent the annular edge 37 is beveled as at 38. a p

The diaphragm, generally indicated at 16, is molded as 'an integral part of the nozzle 11 andextends transversely of the interior of the nozzle below the horizontal plane of the peripheral bead 34. The central annular portion of the diaphragm, indicated at a, within which the openings :tobe described are contained has a thicker wall area than thegannular portion 16b of the diaphragm surrounding 7 the cap. The cap 14 has a substantially flat top 40 and a depending outer cylindrical side wall or skirt 42 provided with a thickened annular wall portion 44 at the bottom thereof to which the hinge strap 12 connects. An

extension 46 provided at the front of the cap is presented for manual engagement for the purposeof lifting the cap from the nozzle.

Extending radially inwardly from the side wall of the .cap is a continuous bead or lip 48 which is engageable with the underside of the peripheral bead or lip 34 of the nozzle as shown in dot and dash lines in FIGURE 2 to secure the cap in closed position.

In its central portion the cap has a recess 59, having an extends from the enlargement 22 of the nozzle outwardly :to the bottom of the outer cylindrical side wall or skirt of inner side wall 52 adapted to be tightly received within the upper or mouth portion of the nozzle to engage the inner. wall of the nozzle, as best seen in dotted lines in FIGURE 2. The outer .surface of the inner cylindrical wall is shaped at 54 complementary to the beveled edge 38 of thenozzle so that when the cap is in closed position a seal-tight fit is effected between the cap and the nozzle.

The arrangement of the openings in the diaphragm, best illustrated in FIGURES 2 to 5 inclusive,'will now be described.

The thickened annular portion 16:: of the diaphragm is provided with a plurality of orifices or openings which are prearranged so that the liquid within the container may be simultaneously discharged at varying angles so as to simultaneously cover a certain prescribed area. As

shown in the drawings, there. are four equally spaced orifices designated by the numerals 55, 58, and 62;

Each of said orifices or openings is inclined at an angle of approximately 10 with respect to the longitudinal axis AA of the nozzle or spout. As best shown in FIGURE I 5 which would be the spraying position of the nozzle or spout, the two orifices 56 and so are inclined outwardly. The two other openings 58 and 62 would also be similarly inclined outwardly at the same angle relative to the longi- .cumference of the mouth of the nozzle.

the preferred, arrangement.

within the thickened annulus 16a, as indicated at 64' in FIGURES 4 and 5. 1

When the container is inverted as shown in FIGURE 1 for the purpose of discharging the fluid, the nozzle 10 would be in the position shown in FIGURE 5 and the liquid material would be sprayed through the orifices or outlet of the nozzle. Thus, with four satellite openings spaced around the diaphragm the streams would diverge outwardly, as best shown in FIGURE 1, with the central stream being discharged in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the spout. The streams of the discharged liquid, upon contact with a surface spaced from the outlet from the nozzle, would define and sever m area greater than the circumference of the mouth of the nozzle.

' The angle at'which the bores are formed has a relationship to the wall of the spout, for it will be seen that if the angle is too great the discharged streams would strike thewalls of the spout and will be deflected. If all of the bores'were parallel to the central bore 64, then the area sprayed simultaneously would be less than the cirthat best results are obtained when the individual orifices or openings are placed at an angle of between 5 to 15 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The

number of holes or bores may be varied, depending upon the size of the cap, but the arrangement shown herein is The thickened wall area of thediaphragm in which the orifices or openings are contained provides openings with sutficient length and wall surface to control the angular direction of the discharged streams;

In FIGURE 6 of the drawing, there is disclosed a modified form of the nozzle structure wherein the previously described generalarrangement of orifices or openings is maintained but wherein each satellite orifice or opening 7 .66 is placed in an individual thickened portion 67 of the diaphragm, the portion 68 of the diaphragm in which the central or axial orifice 69is formed being of approximately the same thickness as'the diaphragm portion surrounding the circle of thickened portions 67.

In FIGURE '7, another slight modification is shown which follows the general pattern of the FIGURE 6 form but wherein the central or axial orifice or opening 70 also is placed in an individual thickened portion 71.

' In FIGURE 8 an additional modification is shown, and

in this form it'will be noted that all orifices or openings, axial and satellite, are placed in a single thickened portion '72 surrounded by the thin annulus B.

It is to be understood that other changes and modifications may be made in the nozzle structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A dispensing closure for use with a container for liquid and having a wall provided with an opening, a tubular nozzle body having a dispensing outlet end and a lower portion 'for connection with said wall opening to receive liquid therethrough from the container, a diaphragm extending across said nozzle body in a position recessed a substantial distance from said outlet and having a plurality of circumferentially disposed dispensing openings therethrough, said openings being individually inclined at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle body and diverging outwardly to permit the liquid contents otithe container to be discharged through the diaphragm and out through the nozzle body outlet in diverging streams which after passing through said nozzle body outlet define between them an area greater than the circumference of said nozzle body outlet, an axiallydisposed dispensing opening in said diaphragm, a cap tethered to said nozzle body and adapted to be positioned over the dispensing outlet end of the nozzle body to close the same and the top surface of the diaphragm being concave so that the liquid re-enters the openings when thecontainer is positioned with the nozzle body in non-dispensing I have found 5 position with the concave surface of the diaphragm facing upwardly.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which at least some of said dispensing openings are placed in thickened portions of the diaphragm each eifective to give accurate direction to individual streams of liquid dispensed through said dispensing openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 212,856 Lockwood Mar. 5, 1879 791,541 Danforth June 6, 1905 1,863,158 Greene June 14, 1932 6 Thompson Sept. 23, 1941 Vegell May 18, 1943 Roop Sept. 15, 1953 Tupper Nov. 30, 1954r Albiani Mar. 11, 1958 Morrison June 23, 1959 Krautkramer Nov. 3, 1959 Tupper Aug. 30, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Belgium Nov. 14, 1950 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1960 Great Britain Nov. 30, 1960 

1. A DISPENSING CLOSURE FOR USE WITH A CONTAINER FOR LIQUID AND HAVING A WALL PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING, A TUBULAR NOZZLE BODY HAVING A DISPENSING OUTLET END AND A LOWER PORTION FOR CONNECTION WITH SAID WALL OPENING TO RECEIVE LIQUID THERETHROUGH FROM THE CONTAINER, A DIAPHRAGM EXTENDING ACROSS SAID NOZZLE BODY IN A POSITION RECESSED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID OUTLET AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED DISPENSING OPENINGS THERETHROUGH, SAID OPENINGS BEING INDIVIDUALLY INCLINED AT AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID NOZZLE BODY AND DIVERGING OUTWARDLY TO PERMIT THE LIQUID CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINER TO BE DISCHARGED THROUGH THE DIAPHRAGM AND OUT THROUGH THE NOZZLE BODY OUTLET IN DIVERGING STREAMS WHICH AFTER PASSING THROUGH SAID NOZZLE BODY OUTLET DEFINE BETWEEN THEM AN AREA GREATER THAN THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID NOZZLE BODY OUTLET, AN AXIALLY DISPOSED DISPENSING OPENING IN SAID DIAPHRAGM, A CAP TETHERED TO SAID NOZZLE BODY AND ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED OVER THE DISPENSING OUTLET END OF THE NOZZLE BODY TO CLOSE THE SAME AND THE TOP SURFACE OF THE DIAPHRAGM BEING CONCAVE SO THAT THE LIQUID RE-ENTERS THE OPENINGS WHEN THE CONTAINER IS POSITIONED WITH THE NOZZLE BODY IN NON-DISPENSING POSITION WITH THE CONCAVE SURFACE OF THE DIAPHRAGM FACING UPWARDLY. 